Article-dispensing apparatus



Feb. 4, 1930. DOE-BEL] 1,746,192

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed D60. 29. 1926 3 Shets-Sheet l w Inuemor N Q i'ljlllllllllllli llllllllllIIIHIUIIIIIIIIIIIIEIIllllllll llllllllllilllw n N a, m erzjoekla fzer Ad Mvmy Feb. 4, 1930.

A. DOEBELI ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 alberbDqeMa w MM FN mm a g.

Feb. 4, 1930. A. DOEBELI 1,746,192

ARTICLE DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Dec, 29. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT DOEBE-LI, GF BERN, SNVITZERLAND ARTICLEJHSPENSING APPARATUS Application filed December 29, 1926, Serial No. 157,770, and in Germany January 11, 1926.

The present invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices and more particularly to an apparatus for dispensing postage stamps, and the like, which is especially designed for the use of post office oiiicials for quickly and accurately attending to the sale of stamps to the public.

There are already.known vending apparatus for this purpose in which the stamp strip is led from the supply roll over a feed wheel, which is stepped ahead in accordance with the demanded number of stamps, after the proper control lever has been operated, the fed portion of the strip then being severed from the roll. Such known apparatus are unsatisfactory for various reasons, mainly because they allow only the discharge of a single stamp denomination at a time, whilst it often is necessary, or at least would greatly expedite the sales, to be able to dispense a number of different denominations all in one operation. Another defect of prior apparatus is their complicated construction, which makes disassembling for repair purposes e);- pensive and time consuming.

The object of this invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus for stamps, tickets, and like flat objects, by means of which the articles can be quickly delivered in required quantities and in different denominations or values, all in a single operation. The apparatus can readily be adjusted to deliver, for instance, postage stamps of the several conventional denominations and deliver simultaneously any required number of several denominations by a single rotation of the crank handle. The apparatus, further, can readily be adjusted to handle strips or sheets of various widths, so that a relatively large number ofstamps can he delivered by a single operation. The number of the operative parts of my device is restricted to a minimum, making the apparatus practically fool-proof, means being provided to register the individual operations as to their value, so that the operator at all times has before him a check on his sales and is also given timely warning when to replenish the supply of one or more reels of stamps or the like. In the further description I shall use the term on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus; 1* igure 4 is a section through Figure 3 on line 4 Figures 5 and 6 respectively show the cutting device for a single stamp strip in side view, partly in section, and in top view;

Figure 7 shows one of the locking devices for the feeding units, on line 77 of Figure 1 Figures 8, 9, and 9 show constructional details fully described in the specification;

Figure 10 illustrates the feeder construction for use with wide stamp sheets or reels in front view,

Figure 11 a side view thereof, partly in section, and

Fig. 12 shows a special form of cutting tool.

The novel important feature of the apparatus is the stamp feeding unit, of which there is one for each stamp denomination, and which controls all other operations.

Each feeding mechanism comprises the selector wheel 1 preferably in the shape of a sector, as shown in the s veral figures, which is fixed on the shaft 2. This latter e tends across the entire apparatus and carries all selectors, the number of which is dependent upon the number of the several stamp denominations to be handled.

This

shaft is the main driving shaft and is shown here as hand-operated but it may, obviously, also be power-operated.

In the rim of the selector sector are radially movable coupling pins 3.

In the illusdin to requirements. Ii'nmediately alongside of, and partly extending into, the

correspondingly recessed or dished selector 1 is mounted the coupling wheel 4 provided with peripheral teeth 44 and rigidly connected to the driving wheel 5. The two wheels 4 and 5 are idly mounted on the laterally'extended hub of the selector 1, as clear- 1y shown in Figure 1. The drive wheel 5 is toothed and meshes with the smaller toothed wheel 6, w ich latter is fixed on the shaft 7 and is rigidly connected with the feed roller 8. This latter operates between the wheel 5 and the selector 1 and is provided on its circumference with rows of small pointed feed pins 9, designed to engage in thecross-perforations of the overlying stamp strip or ribbon 10. Each selector unit is provided with feed roller 8, and the ratio of the meshing wheels is such that the pins 9 properly cooperate with the cross-perforations in the strip,

. no matter what the extent of stripfeed. From the inner side of the rollers 8 extend trip pins 11, equidistantly spaced apart in accordance with the length of the particular stamp deliv ered by this particular roller. These pins are designed for tripping cooperation with the bell-crank lever 12 (Fig. 9) as will be described further on.

For operating the feed roller 8 the selector 1 must be selectively coupled with the wheel 4, which is effected by engaging pins 3 with the interspaces or teeth between the teeth 44.

F this purpose the intersnaces or recesses between the teeth 44 of the coupling wheel 4 correspond in relative position and form to the formand position of the pins 3. To ensure perfect registry of pins and recesses at all times there is provided a fine-adjustment which allows of the selector being relatively initially adjusted but locks it at all other times against inadvertent relative displacement. As shown in the drawing the driving wheel is provided in its inner face near its circumferential edge with saucer-shaped depressions 13 (see especially Figs. 1 and 4), and a resilient stud or button 14 is mounted in the bracket 15 for cooperation with these depressions. The bracket 15 extends rigidly from the rod 17, fixed in the machine frame part 16. In order to assure the correct adjustment of the coupling wheel 4 relative'to the selector 1 and, if necessary, to compensate for small inaccuracies andplay in the mechanism, it is necessary that the position of the parts after each operation be adnisted by means of the stationary snap button detent 14. For this purpose the seatportions or depressions 13 of wheel 5 are conicallyformed or rather widely rounded out, so that there are no interspaces between the individual depressions 13, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Upon the button 14 snapping into a depression, it will, then readily become selfcentered therein, causing correct relative adjustment of the coupling members after each coupling snap button 14, which operation. then,

ouracies in the movement of the parts, ef-

fectively prevents the inaccuracies of the mechanism from becoming cumulative which would soon throw the whole mechanism out of gear.

Another fine-adjustment arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 8, according to which the coupling 4 itself is used to cooperate with the latter is adapted to engage the recess between teeth 44 and is mounted on the bracket 15 fixed on the stationary frame part18.

In order to assure the proper coupling of the selector 1 with the coupling wheel 4, the former after each operation must be returned into its initial position in which the coupling pins 3 must properly face the interspaces between the individual teeth 44 of wheel 4. Since the selector is sector-shaped, it is onesidedly overbalanced so that it is thereby always automaticallyreturned by gravity into the initial position. In order to I positively lock it in this latter position there is provided thereon a laterally projecting pin 19 (Fig. 7)

which in the inactive position of the sector engages in a .loclnng device comprising a rigid nose 20 and a resilient tooth 21 mounted on rod 17. The extent of operative counterclockwise return travel of this selector is thus limited, whilst it can readily swing in clockwise direction of reach new delivering operation.

For the purpose of uncoupling the push pins 3 from the coupling wheel 4 there is provided the uncoupling member 22 extending 7 into the path of the pins 3, with its cam face 23 facing the pins, see Figs. 1, 2 and 9. This cam member 22 is stationarily secured to the frame member 18, and is positioned alongsideof the wheel 4 in close relation thereto, the'pins 3 being of a width to extend overthe wheel 4 so that in a coupled state they contactwith the cam face 23. There is, further, pro- ;vided alongside of cam member 22 a stop segment 24 (Fig. 9) which extends opposite all i of the pins 3 and can be radially displaced, for

instance upon the cam member 22. This segment, as shown in Fig. 9% is spring influenced and is held in the relative inoperative position, shown in Fig. 9, by thebell-crank 12, as long as there is a supply of stamps available. The pins 3 are wide enough to extend also over this segment 24. The bellcrank 12, whose one arm, as above stated, extends into the path of the pins 11 for tripping eoaction therewith, serves as a feeler and is urged against the gummed rear face of the stamp strip 10 by the spring 120. The strip 7 10 passes over the feed roller 8 and is kept in contact with the pins 9 by the overhanging guard cover 25. A cut-out 26 in the latter allows the feeler head 121 to fall forward into it upon the last stamp being issued from the supply receptacle 27. The feed roller .8 is

provided for the oscillations of the bell-crank 12 with an annular grooveSO, Figs. 3,4 and 10, in which also engages the stamp lifter and guide member 28 with its free, attenuated .end 280 (Fig. 4). The lifter 28 is provided with a cut-oute2 9, corresponding to the cutout in the cover plate 25. The lifter 28 curves outwardly and lies between the selector 1 and the drive wheel 5 and is rigidly secured to the machine frame plate 30. The main purpose of the lifter 28 is to lift the stamp strip off the feed roller 8, guide it downwardly andfinally eject the cut-off stamps from the machine.

The curvature of the supply strip lifter and cut stamp guide 28 prevents crowding of the stamps and assures proper delivery at all times even of the closely rolled, more or less curled last stamps .of each supply roll. The lower end of the lifter 28 cooperates with the delivery chute 31 terminating at the delivery slot 32 in the apparatus case 33. Near the upper end the lifter 28 is provided with an aperture 34 in which the knife 35 can engage for the purpose of severing the required number ofstamps from the supply strip. The knife 35 is mounted on the laterally reciprocable carriage 36 (Figs. 5 and 6) which latter is urged away from the member 28 by the Springs 360 (Fig. 4). lVithin the carriage 36 two spring buffers 37 are mounted so that their front faces normally extend in a plane somewhat in advance of the superposed knife edge for the purpose of pressingly contacting with .the stamp strip 10, just before the knife comes into the cutting position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Since the stamp strip is held above the knife by the feeler head 121, and below the knife by the buffers 37, the strip is kept taut during the severing operation, doing away with the necessity of providing a special counter-pressure member opposite the knife. The knife is preferably wedgeshaped, as shown in Fig. 6, which assures a clean out. It is understood that each stamp lifter 28 is provided with such a cutting device, each of which latter is operated by a dog 49 fast on the associated selector (Figs. 3 and 4) and suitable movement transmitting mechanism, not specially illustrated as forming no part of my invention.

In order to detach by a single operation any required number of stamps of different denominations, all of the selectors, whether coupled with their respective coupling wheels 4 or not, are rotated forwardly and thereby operate all of the knives 35, when the springaction of the carriages 36 will cause the dogs 49 to recoil, whereby the return movement of the selectors, after they are uncoupled, is initiated. A counter mechanism 38, whose counting wheel 39 cooperates with the driving wheels 5, is provided near the delivery end of the member 28, so that for each coupled unit the detached number of stamps is separately recorded.

As shown, the shaft 2,is hand-operated, for which purpose a toothed segment 59is fixed thereon, with which meshes .a transmission gear 40. This latter is driven from a toothed wheel 41, provided with ,a mutilated rim portion 42 and which is turned by the crank 43, the latter after each complete revolution bein stopped by spring buttons 54 .(Figs. .1 and 2). Foreach new revolution the front spring button 54 must be forced inwardly to allow the crank to pass by.

In front of the push pins 3, and provided for controlling the same, are mountedin the case front the keys 45, numbered eonsec-u tively from 1 to 10 (Fig. .2). The shafts '2, 7 and 17 and their cooperating parts are all mounted on the frame 16, which is completely covered over by the case 33, in which latter are provided the delivery slot 32 for the stamps, the inspection window .46 for the counters 38, and a cover 47 for each unit for replenishing the supply rolls, the covers preferably being suitably fastened and safeguarded by seals against surreptitious tam poring with the machine.

In order to prevent unauthorized operation of the device, for instance at night, there may be provided in the case an opening, through which the gear 40 can be temporarily removed, which opening may :be closed by a locked cover.

The shaft ,2 with its wheels 1, 4 and 5 is journaled in the frame bearings 48, the units being completely assembled by themselves and then placed into these bearings 48. The same arrangement is employed in the case of the shaft 7 with its feed rollers and of the shaft 17 with its brackets 15. The lifters 28 also are readily removable by themselves for repair purposes.

The operation of the describedmechanisms is as follows:

By way of example seven stamps of a certain value are demanded. The supply recap tacles 27 contain the stamp reels and each strip is carried over its feed roller 8 as far as the associated separating knife 35, which position is shown in Fig. 4. All of the selectors 1 are held in their initial position by the spring buttons 14. The operator depresses the 7 key of the proper unit and therebv couples the selector with its wheel 4 by the intermediary of the shifted push pin 3. The operator pushes back the front stop :54, which frees the handle 43 and turns the latter once around, until it is arrested again between the stops The toothless portion 42 of wheel 41 causes the handle 43 to become detached from the selector after a part rotation which corresponds to the largest possible advance-of the selector, and then continues in the same direction into the initial position. During this crank handle revolution the parts 1, 4 and 5 have been operated as follows: Together with the advanced selector the coupler wheel 4 and the drive wheel 5 have been rotated forwardly, and thefeed roller 8 for the stamp 10 has been advanced through the distance of seven stamp lengths, so that the upper cross edge or perforation of the seventh stamp extends lengthwise of the slot 3a in front of the knife edge, The positive connection between drive wheel 5 and the adjusting device 1e, 15 is overcome by the force of the handle 43, so

that after the wheel 4 has advanced through seven divisions the parts are relatively fineadgusted as above described. The selector is now uncoupled from the wheels 4 and 5 by the cam member 22, the cam face 23 of which lifts pin 3 out of engagement with the wheel l and returns it to its initial position. The cam 7 surface 23'is so arranged that the uncoupling operation of the'push pin 3 takes place simul- 'taneously with the coupling of wheels 4 and 5 to the rod 17 by means of the fine-adjustment device 13--14. The latter two wheels 4 and 5 "now remain stationary; the selector meanwh'ile by means of the dog 49 has moved the knife carriage 36, and the seven stamps have coupled selector owing to its one-sided overbeen severed from the supply strip. The unweight returns into its initial adjusted positioncin which pin 19 engages parts 202l.

" The cut off stamps slide over the concave face counter 38 by seven units.

If simultaneously two or more sets of stamps of different denominations are to be fdelivered, theoperator depresses the proper keys and turns the handle only after the several selectors are thus coupled. All of the selectors will be operated oneach handle op- I eration, whether they are coupled or not, but

only the coupled wheels 4 and 5 are rotated with their feed rollers 8 through an extent which varies in accordance with the key depressed, whilst the non-coupled wheels 4 and 5 with their feed rollers 8 remain stationary,

or-in other words, the rotation of the wheels 4 and 5 and thelr respective feed rollers 8 takes place'only after the wheels4- have been coupled to their selectors. After the laststamp of a certain denomination or denominations has been sold, it may happen that fewer stamps are still in the machine than are demanded, which the operator can not at once ascertain. Suppose that only one stamp 10 of a certain denomination is left, which is just above the knife 35 and is held by thefeeler head 121 (Fig. 9 if, for

' instance, three stamps of this particular value arerequested, the operator will depress the 3 key of that unit and then turns the crank oncearound. At first the feeler 12 Wlll be pushed back by the proper'trippin pin ll,

lower nose 220 of'the feeler releasesthe loching segment at, which latter then by means of its springs 2&0 is moved towardthe inner ends of the coupling pins 3 and thereby forces back the depressed coupling pin 3 out of the wheel i into its inactive outer position. All these movements take place so quickly that they are over before the operated selector rotates further, so that then only the one delivered stamp is counted, the remaining two divisions of the initially set three-division delivery means not being registered.

The operator then has to place a fresh supply roll into the receptacle 27, after the cover 4-7 has been lifted, each cover having approximately the width of the associated feed roller 8 with its laterally extending pins 11. v

In case there are only a certain number, say nine, stamps of a certain value in the machine, and nine stamps are asked for, then these nine stamps will be thrown out in the us .al way,'but the operator is unaware of the.

fact that the supply has been exliaustedthereby. In this case the locking se ment 24 at once is forced outwardly upon the feeler dropping into the slot 26, and is retained in this pin-locking position in suitable manner, for instance, by a locking pawl 220 (Fig. 9) so that then the keys d5 of that unit cannot again be depressed until the supply has been replenished and the locking segment has been freed again. 7 i

In Fig. 2 the first of the keys 45 isshown depressed whereby the particular coupling pin 3 in line therewith is moved into engagement with the wheel 43- As long as there are stamps in the machine, the feeler 12 will rapidly be oscillated by the passing trip pins 11, which, however, does not release the coupling segment 24, since the lower feeler nose 220'prevents this. This feelerserveson the one hand to support the stamp strip during:

the cutting operation, and on the other hand to release the locking segment 24 on the last stamp having been delivered. q

In order to handle stamps in larger quantities, the apparatus may be so dimensioned that instead of strips entire sheets of stamps are placed into the supply receptacles. F or this purpose the feed rollers 8 are replaced by feed drums 50, as shown in Fig. 10, which are mounted between two rollers 8 and over which the wide stamp sheets are led. 7 These wide sheets are advanced by means of the perforation entering pins 9. The dimensions of the parts are correspondingly enlarged, but the construction and operation thereof is identically the same, as abovedescribed in connection with the parts handlingstrips of single stamps. The drums 50 preferably are also provided centrally with "an annular depression 80, so that three feeler devices may be provided for securely guiding and holding the wide stamp sheet and to prevent the last portion thereof from becoming relatively displaced. The knives 835 (Fig. 12) too, are laterally extended and their cutting edges extend in Zig-zag formation, so that each single stamp is cut from the center outwardly. The lifter 28 also is widened, as shown in dotted outline in the ri ht hand portion of Fig. 1.0. The lifter engages in the three annular recesses of the rollers 8 and the drum 50 respectively and is provided with three cut-outs 29 for the feeler he ds 121.

It is, obviously, not necessary to employ such wide drums for each stamp denomination, and they can be reserved for the most commonly used values, say one and two cent stamps, as otherwise the apparatus would be too unwieldy, and I may arrange the units in various combinations to suit different requirements.

lVhen using entire sheets of stamps, the weight of such supply reels is relatively great and there is danger that the pins 9 of the feed rollers and drums might tear at the perforations when pulling off the sheet. To prevent this I arrange support rollers 51 in the supply receptacle 27 (Fig. 11) on which the heavy stamp reel 10 readily rotates, reducing friction to a minimum.

Gbviously there may be various constructional modifications in the details; thus, for instance, the knives 35, instead of being individually provided and moved, can be all mounted on a common cross-bar, carried by the frame 16. The apparatus may also be power-operated, in which case the crank 43 is to be replaced by a worm wheel fixed on the shaft of the toothed wheel ll, and the electric motor is automatically arrested after each revolution of the wheel 11.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In an article vending apparatus, an actuating device, aplu'rality of vending units for vending articles in continuous strip form, and means for selectively coupling one or more of said vending units to the actuating device for simultaneous operation of one or more units and like or different extents of dispensing action of the coupled units.

2. In an article vending apparatus, an actuating device, a plurality of vending units for vending articles in continuous strip form, and key-controlled means for selectively coupling one or more of said vending units to the actuating device for simultaneous operation and like or diiferent extents of dispensing action.

3. In an article vending apparatus, an actuating device, a plurality of vending units for vending articles in continuous strip form,

each including a selector and a feed member normallydisconnected from the selector,

means for simultaneously transmitting motion to all the selectors from the actuating device, and key-controlled means for selectively and variably connecting each feed member with its selector for a different extent of feed motion, whereby a plurality of li re or different dispensing actions may be simultaneously made.

In an apparatus for dispensing articles in continuous strip form a plurality of selectors, actuating means for imparting working motion to the selectors in unison, a feed member for each selector and normally disc nnected therefrom, and selective means for variably coupling each feed member with its selector for a different extent of feed action.

5. In an apparatus for dispensing articles in continuous strip form, a plurality of vending units, actuating means common to all the units, and means for operating all or any number of units from the actuating device for the same or different extents of feed action.

6. In an article vending apparatus, a plurality of vending units each for vending an article in continuous strip form, an actuating device normally disconnected from the units, each unit including a feed member and a selector normally disconnected therefrom, the selectors being coupled for a simultaneous working action under the action of the actuating device and adapted at the end of the working motion to be released from the actuating device and to automatically return to normal position, coupling means for selectively and variably connecting one or more of the selectors with the feed members for setting the apparatus for a plurality of like or variable vending actions, and means for controlling said coupling means.

7. In apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, an actuating device, a plurality of rotary selectors adapted to be simultaneously driven on a working motion by the actuating device and then to be released thereby and to automatically return to normal position, a strip feed member for each selector and normally disconnected therefrom, coupling means for selectively and variably connecting each feed member with its selector, means for selectively setting the coupling means of the units, and means for automatically throwing the coupling members out of action upon the release of the selectors and their return to normal position.

8. In an article dispensing apparatus, a plurality of vending units, each for vending an article in continuous strip form and each including a selector, a normally idle feed member, and a coupling member normally connected to the feed member and disconnected from the selector, a set of coupling ele ments selectively operative for coupling each coupling member to its selector for imparttion, and means operative on the return motion of the selectors for rendering the coupling means inoperative.

9. In an article vending apparatus, a plurality of vending units each for vending an article in continuous strip form actuating means therefor, setting mechanism selectively operative for rendering any one or more of the units operable by the actuating means for imparting the same or different degrees of motion to the strips for vending the same number of articles or difierent numbers of articles on each Working motion, means for rendering the setting means inactive'after each actuation of the units but in condition to be reset on a succeeding operation thereof, and means governing the lastnamed means with respect to its unit for maintaining said lastnamed means active to preventoperation of the setting means upon exhaust of the supply of articles to be dispensed by the unit.

10. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, a rotary shaft, a plurality of selectors fixed to the shaft, said selectors being so balanced as to automatically return after actuation to normal position, actuating means for imparting a Working motion to the shaft and selectors and for thereupon releasing the same for return motion, a coupling Wheel for each selector loose on the shaft, a normally idle strip feed member in gear with said coupling Wieel, a set of independently movable coupling elements carried by each selector for coupling the same V thereto for a variable feed motion of said coupling Wheel and the feed member actuated thereby, meanslfor selectively setting saidcoupling elements, and means operative on the return motion of the selectors for releasalin member for drivin the feed member 1 b 2'! 7 means for actuating the selector, and means for variably coupling the selector With the coupling member for imparting more or less extent of feed motion to the feed member and releasing the coupling means after actuation of the selector.

1?). in an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, a selector, dispensing 7 means actuated thereby including a feed member normally disconnected from and adapted to be coupled to the selector, said selector and member being provided with inter-engaging coupling portions, selective means governing the same for variably coupling the coupling member to the selector for imparting more or less extent of feed motion to the feed mem-' of a complete circle, said selector being movable by gravity to normal position after each actuation thereof, actuating means for moving the selector through its orbit of motion and then releasing it for its return motion, a coupling member having clutch surfaces, a strip feed member actuated thereby, clutch members on the selector selectively operative for engagement with the clutch member to impart a feed motion thereto on a Working orbit of the selector, means for selectively setting said clutch members, and means for ret acting the clutch members on the return motion of the selector. 7

15. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, an ascillatory selector having a Workin motion in one direction and adapted to return by gravity to normal position, an actuating device for moving the selector on its working motion and releasing i for its return movement. a normally idle strip feed member, a normally idle coupling member for driving th feed member, said coupling member having clutch surfaces, clutch elements on the selector for selective engagement with the clutch surfaces of the coupling member, means for selectively setting said clutch elements, a device automatically operative for retracting the clutch elements upon the return motion of the selector, and means for rendering said device permanently active to hold the clutch elements retracted and against setting motion when the supply of articles to be vended by the feed member is exhausted.

16. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, a selector movable from an inactive to an active position and back again, a normally idle strip feed device, a coupling member for operating said feed device, said coupling member having clutch surfaces, clutch elements on the selector for variable engagement with said clutch surfaces of the coupling member, means for selectively setting said clutch elements, means for imparting a Working motion to the selector, and a cam member operative on the completion of the working stroke of the selector for retracting the set clutch elements.

17. In an apparatus for vending articles continuous strip form, a selector oscillatable between inactive and fully throivn positions and bacl; again, means for actuating said selector, a strip feed member, a clutch member for driving the feed member 11 provided with clutch surfaces, selectively operable clutch elements on the selector for variable engagement with the clutch surfaces of the clutch member, means for selectively setting said clutch elements, a cam device normally operative to retract the clutch elements on the completion of the working motion of the selector and movable to a position to main tain the clutch elements in retracted position and against a setting action, and means controlled by the feed action of the feed member for normally permitting said cam device to perform the firstuiamec function and releasing it for action to perform the second-named. function upon the exhaust of supply of the articles to be fed by the feed member.

18. In an apparatus for Vending articles in continuous strip form, a rotary strip feed member movable to different predetermined degrees for successive feed motions, a selector having Working and return movements, selectively settable coupling means for operatively connecting the selector with the feed member for imparting different degrees of feed motion to the latter, a retracting device for throwing the coupling means out of action on the completion of the Working movement of the selector, and a feeler governed by the action of the feed member and by the articles fed thereby for rendering the retracting member permanently active upon exhaust of the supply of articles to be fed by the feed member.

19. In an article vending apparatus, a casing having a feed outlet and an observation opening, a feeder movable to different degrees for feeding articles in continuous strip form successively through said outlet, a selector adapted to be variably coupled to the feeder to control the degrees of feed motion of the latter, means for selectively coupling said selector to the feeder, a retractor for releasing the couplin at the end of the working motion f the selector, and a feeler controlling said retractor and normally held from retract-or governing operation during the feed of articles by the feeder and adapted upon the exhaust of sup ply of the articles to engage said observation opening and to set the retractor to hold the coupling means immovable for coupling action.

.20. In an article vending apparatus, a casing havin a discharge outlet, a rotary feeder for feeding articles in continuous strio form successively through said outlet, a clamping and releasing member controlled by the feeder for movement into and out of clamping engagement with the article being fed, a recipcutter arranged in proximity to said outletand movable toward and from the same, and a resilient clamping member carried by said cutter operative to engage and clamp the article below the outlet While the article is being held and clamped above the out et by said clamping and releasing member.

21. In an apparatus for vending articles A- continuous strip form, an oscillatory se ector, strip feeder, coupling means for variably coupling the selector to the feeder, and gearing for imparting motion to the seector including a gear element and a mutiated gear for driving engagement With the atter.

22. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, an oscillatory Shaft, 21 series of selectors fixed to the shaft, a series of slidablc coupling pins carried by each selector, a rotary strip feed wheel, a transmission unit between each selector and a feed Wheel comprising a coupling Wheel and a driving Wheel loosely mounted on the shaft, said driving Wheel being in gear with the feed ivh el and said coupling Wheel being provided with teeth adapted to be engaged by the coupling pins on the selector, means for selectively shifting the clutch pins of each selector into engagement With the teeth of the cooperating coupling wheel, and means for simultaneously shifting all the selectors for transmitting the coupled feed Wheels for a W01 action and subsequently returning the selectors and transmission units to normal position.

In an apparatus for vending articles, in continuous strip form, a shaft, a strip feed Wheel, a selector fixed to the shaft, coupling pins slidbly mounted on the selector, a toothed coupling Wheel loose on the shaft and adapted to be engaged by said pins, a driving Wheel loose on the shaft and in gear With the feed Wheel and fixed to the coupling Wheel for movement therewith, means for operat ingthe shaft to transmit motion to the selectors, means for selectively shifting the clutch pins of the selector into engagement With the coupling Wheel, and a cam device operating at the end of the Working motion of the sel ctor for retracting the locking pin which has been adjusts to coupling position.

24-. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, an oscillatory shaft, a selector fixed to said shaft, radially slidable coupling pins carried by the selector, a strip feed wheel, a toothed coupling Wheel loose on the shaft and adapted to be engaged by said pins to connect said Wheel to the selector, a drive Wheel fixed to turn with the l l l coupling Wheel and in gear With the feed Wheel, means for shifting the pins of the selector into engagement with the teeth of the coupling Wheel, a device operative at the end of the Working motion of the selector for retracting the pin in engagement with the coupling wheel, a device operative when the supply of goods is exhausted for movement into the path of the pins on the selector to prevent couplingmovement thereof, and means controlled by the absence of goods for locking said device in such position.

25. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, an oscillatory shaft, a selector fixed thereto to move therewith, radially slidable coupling pins carried by the selector, astrip feed wheel, a coupling wheel loose on the shaft and having teeth adapted to be engaged by said pins, a drive shaft in gear with the feed wheel and connected to the coupling wheel to move therewith, the pins being adapted when engaged with the teeth of the coupling wheel to project laterally at one side of said teeth, means for selectively adjusting the clutch pins in engagement with the teeth of the coupling wheel, and a device mounted and arranged to en a e a oortion of a D111 en a 'ed with and projecting laterally of a tooth of the clutch wheel for releasing the pin from the wheel and returning the same to normal position at the end of tlieworkiiig movement of the selector.

26. In a machine for vending articles in continuous strip form, an oscillatory shaft,

a gravity retracted selector fixed to the shaft,

radially movable clutch pins carried by said selector, a toothed coupling wheel loose on the shaft and adapted to be engaged by said pins, a strip feed wheel, a driving wheel fixed to the coupling wheel and in gear with the feed wheel, means for selectively adjusting the pins into engagement with the teeth of the coupling wheel, a pin retracting device mounted in the path of movement of the selector for moving the clutch pins out of engagement with the teetli'of the coupling wheel at the end of the working motion of the selector, a spring actuated blocking device normally arranged iii rear of the pin retracting device and operatively movable in 7 advance thereof so as to lie between the same tor, a coupling wheel normally disengaged therefrom, a driving wheel connected with the coupling wheel and having a retaining seat therein, clutch pins on the selector for engagement with and disengagement from the coupling wheel, means for projecting and "retracting said clutch pins, a strip vending element operative by the driving Wheel, and a spring actuated member arranged. to engage the seat in the driving wheel to retain said wheel in a predetermined position.

28. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, a plurality of strip vending devices, means for selectively setting any number of the total number of vending devices for like or different extents of vending action, and means for simultaneously operating the set vending devices to like or clifferent extents according to the vending actions for which they are set.

29. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, a plurality of vending devices, means for selectively setting any number of the total number of vending devices for the same or diiferent extents of vending motion for vending the same or a different number of articles in continuous strip form, and means for operating the set veiiding devices forsimultaneously vending the number of articles in continuous strip form for which they are respectively set.

' 30. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, a plurality of vending devices each for vending a strip, means for selectively setting any number of the total number of vending devices for imparting varying feed motions to the strips for vending the same or a different number of articles of thesame or difierent values, and means for operating the set vending devices for simultaneously feeding the strips for vending the number and values of articles for which they are set. V l

31. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, a plurality of strip vending devices, selector keys for setting the respective vending devices for the same or difierent extents of vending action, and means independent of the keys for simultaneously actuating the selected vending de vices set by the keys.

32. In an apparatus for vending articles in continuous strip form, a vending device adapted to be selectively set for feeding a strip for vending a predetermined number of articles in the strip, means for setting said device for the extent of action required for vendin the number of articles desired, and means for rendering said setting means inoperative when the supply of articles is exhausted or short of a number selected.

recording the number of articles vended by each vending device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT DOEBELI. 

